The NBA playoffs haven’t gotten off to a great start for the Milwaukee Bucks, and Jabari Parker might be the most frustrated of the bunch.
Milwaukee dropped the first two games of their first-round series against the Boston Celtics, the second defeat a 120-106 loss to send them back home with a 2-0 deficit.
Parker largely has been a non-factor so far, due in part to his sharp decline in minutes. After averaging 24 minutes per game during the regular season, he has tallied an average 12.5 in the first two contests against the C’s.
With the Bucks’ backs against the wall heading into Friday’s Game 3, Parker voiced to reporters Thursday his frustration with his time on the floor, also stating his belief that he’s not on interim head coach Joe Prunty’s “good side.”
Jabari Parker was very animated talking about his frustration right now with limited minutes. He mentioned the only way to see the floor more was to be on the “coach’s good side”. When asked if he was on Prunty’s good side, he smirked and said “I don’t think so.” #Bucks
— Stephen Watson (@SWatsonTV) April 19, 2018
Parker on limited playing time:
“I am human. I have a right to be frustrated. I’ve waited two years for this.”
— Stephen Watson (@SWatsonTV) April 19, 2018
Parker’s usage, in a way, has been emblematic of how tumultuous the 23-year-old’s four-year NBA career has been.
While he has proven in some instances his worth as the No. 2 selection in the 2014 draft, his career also has been marred by injury and inconsistency, with him struggling to stay on the floor and be productive for anything close to a full season.
But something’s got to give for the Bucks if they want any hope of extending their season, so who knows, maybe a larger role for Parker could prove to be part of the answer.
